adidas x Raf Simons Detroit Runner

The long-running collaboration between German sportswear titans adidas and the Belgian fashion maverick Raf Simons has been a wellspring of innovation and inspiration in the five years of its existence, from the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ approach to the designer’s beloved Stan Smith, to the street-style sensation that is the Ozweego. The latest brainchild of the collaborative imprint, the adidas x Raf Simons Detroit Runner, continues in this vein, drawing on Simons’ youth culture inspirations to create another unique silhouette.

Much like the Ozweego before it, on first glance, the Detroit looks bizarre: like a classic canvas sneaker that’s dressed as a technical running shoe for Halloween. But the concept of fusing the past and the present is hardly a new one, with retro sneakers from adidas and Nike regularly selling out faster than new styles. The Detroit Runner’s more literal approach – visibly infusing one of the oldest sneaker styles with modern materials and styling – creates something that is uniquely Raf Simons, looking to the future while respecting the past.

The take on the humble canvas sneaker, souped up with modern athletic tooling and an aggressive silhouette is certainly eyecatching, yet is surprisingly wearable, creating an exaggerated alternative to a staple for those bold enough to pull it off. Much like the Ozweego, we expect the Detroit Runner to become a street style classic in its own right.

The adidas x Raf Simons Detroit Runner Sneakers are available now in Black, Red, and Talc/White colourways at Aphrodite1994.com.